Ok great technicians, I am going to try to write this so it really can make sense......I am into the 2nd year of a full off the frame 1987 Suburban 4X4 restoration. I am trying to recreate the Suburban used in the movie "Dante's Peak" and I am at my wits end. I CANNOT get the NEW windshield to go into the Suburban, either with the rope method OR the gasket on the body first method. I have had a major glass company make 6 trips, yep, 6 trips to my house and 4 different people couldn't get it in either, they broke TWO of their windshields in the process. I used to do body work in the 80's on square body trucks and I never ran into this problem. Maybe the quality of glass today??? Anyhow, it does have the chrome reveal strip since it's a Silverado edition. I DID install the rear side glass (Original glass) and installed the chrome strips too, no problem. NOW I am worried I am about to break the glass. I have the factory service manual and it talks about a few measurements but the book isn't too clear on EXACTLY how far away from the BOTTOM of the glass needs to be from the bottom of the windshield frame. Do you have ANY suggestions? I have done Ford Couriers and Opel GT's with the rope method too but the upper area of the glass is lifting up after roping in the bottom and 2/3 rds up the side. Several people have said "Has there been any body work on the windshield frame?" Well, I stripped the body down off the frame and did not see ANY grinding marks or signs of any welding. No fresh paint from any repairs either. So no, no body work is evident on the windshield frame. One of the glass guys used an 80 grit stick on disc on a hand held grinder to grind down their third glass, still a no go. Can I grind this glass successfully the same way? I have plenty of electric grinders and sanders and plenty of sandpaper so do you have any sound advice? The gasket AND windshield I have now is from LMC. The gasket THEY tried was a Precision. THEY (Gaskets) are most certainly different but should that matter to the average Suburban cab glass area? Please help, someone has to have run into this problem. I have searched the internet and I am tired of searching...…..many thanks for your time, I sincerely do appreciate it.
CK5
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1987 Chevrolet Suburban 4X4 new windshield and new gasket won't fit correctly
- Thread starter Heckler
- Start date
Idk man, I had a similar issue on mine. I broke the glass trying to get it back in. Called safelite and they broke their new glass once or twice. Had different guys try and I ended up giving them the boot.
Called a different glass company owned by two guys. They came out and had it in 10 min flat.
They put the gasket on the frame first then the glass
Called a different glass company owned by two guys. They came out and had it in 10 min flat.
They put the gasket on the frame first then the glass
Lubrication is critical, try using gojo hand cleaner, without pumice. Bottom corners in first then work both sides up to the corners evenly leaving the top, center for last. I have a old worn out cotter pin hook that I got from my grandfather to pull the rubber over the glass, start with the rubber in the frame of the truck, lubricate both channels of the rubber, the one on the truck and the one for the glass.
I have installed probably 30 square body windshields and well over 100 other windshields with the rubber gasket and at least 30 glue in style so this opinion comes with a bit of experience.
Do you have the chrome strip removed while installing? If so remove and install chrome after the windshield in.
It might be the rubber is not seated in the body correctly/all the way. I have had to remove the dash pad on more then one truck to get the rubber on all the way.
And last LMC rubber is not nearly as good as what OEM rubber is. If the 2 options above do not work I would be looking for another rubber.
Do you have the chrome strip removed while installing? If so remove and install chrome after the windshield in.
It might be the rubber is not seated in the body correctly/all the way. I have had to remove the dash pad on more then one truck to get the rubber on all the way.
And last LMC rubber is not nearly as good as what OEM rubber is. If the 2 options above do not work I would be looking for another rubber.
MANY thanks for these super responses...……….as of this afternoon, Sunday 4-5-2020, I pulled the windshield out again, cleaned off all the old Dawn and water mixture off the gasket, cleaned the body off completely and wiped everything clean. I then laid out the rubber gasket in the hot sun for 3 hours, yes, it's hot here in Northwest Florida right now. I now have the gasket on the body and the lower corners are fitting much better now since I used a rubber mallet and "Carefully" made sure the gasket is seated all the way on the pinch weld. As I think back a few days ago, the lower corners could have been just a little deeper seated and they are now for sure. The chrome reveal molding strip will be installed with the tool I used on other vehicles that open up the rubber groove and slide in the strip after the windshield is in place. I have the new dash, interior trim pieces and screws laying out ready to go back in but that windshield, well, it HAS to be done so I can move on to the next phase. The glass company said the dash had to come out, I removed it. I will try this again tomorrow OR Tuesday...…….right now, I left the glass sitting in the lower groove and said "Well, tomorrow is another day". Thanks to all for the input, I REALLY appreciate it!
They also make a glue in glass for these trucks now. Not sure why. They are bigger.
Ok...…………...I have tried most of the day, this windshield WILL NOT fit. I installed the rubber into the body glass area and made sure it was seated. I worked in the bottom and the two lower corners, then proceeded up each side. The top of the glass sits about 1/8 of an inch too high to pull the rubber outer lip over the glass. I really need to know who has the BEST rubber gasket for this 1987 Suburban. OEM from who? I did find out Chevrolet DOES have the part number, 471009 available but due to the current state of the country, shipping is going to be about a month for an accurate timeframe. Any suggestions on a quick OEM supplier...…..gotta' get back to it. Time to regroup.
Here is my 2 cents. I restored my 81 last year. I bought a new GM windshield gasket but was forced to buy an aftermarket gasket for the back glass. I bought the best gasket I could find...Precision. We FOUGHT the rear glass for 2 hours to get it because of the gasket. I have installed 20+ squarebody rear glass EVERY time i put the gasket on the glass and rope it in....I can have them in and out in 10 minutes tops! NOT this time. The gasket manufacturer said I had to put the back glass gasket on the truck and then put the window in..........ridiculous. I truly believe you have a gasket issue. Buy a GM gasket and I bet it goes right in. We did have to take some time with the front gasket to work it around the corners since it was new. With the temp in your area it shouldn't be an issue. I'm still looking for a NOS back glass gasket!!
Hey THANKS 86454K30. I installed the two rear LARGE original tinted windows with LMC rubber AND chrome strip. I used the rope method, worked perfect. I put the two rear cargo door original glasses in place with NEW LMC rubber, fit perfect! I see that there is a company in Minnesota called "Need GM parts" I am calling them tomorrow morning. They list the OEM windshield rubber part #471009. I want this to be done. The gasket that Safelite used was Precision, it hung down about 10 inches in the middle on their first try BEFORE they tried to install the glass.. They couldn't get it to work right, the upper right hand corner was barely in and the guy said "Well, that's the best I can do." I said "WHAT?" SO, I guess you will cover the costs of the $4,000 I have in interior work alone? He gave me no answer and walked off. Unbelievable. I guess you don't have any OEM suggestions do you? Take care and thanks again, I sincerely do appreciate it.
NOS rear window gasket
https://www.ebay.com/itm/73-to-87-C...580498&hash=item2ef82ae5c6:g:XuYAAOSwv0tVbxub
Edit: I misread your post. This is for a pickup and not a suburban.
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Any chance you have the OEM rubber the truck came with? Or is it not in reusable state? Would be curious to just try it.
Good morning bigjimmy82. No, the original windshield was broken and the gasket was pretty ate up from all the decades of heat here in Florida. I had to cut out the glass, I had NO idea this was going to be a month long issue. One of the glass guys said the same thing about the original rubber seal. I am making a call this morning to one business I found on the internet last night to inquire about their "OEM rubber seal". I gotta' keep my momentum going. MANY thanks for the input, I sincerely do appreciate it.
@Heckler
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&ei=hbaMXqPEKJH0-gTbp5_IDQ&q=GM+#471009&oq=GM+#471009&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQDEoRCBcSDTctODJnODBnOTlnNjdKDQgYEgk3LTJnMWcyZzFQslZY8XJgg4QBaAFwAHgAgAGNAYgB7gOSAQM0LjKYAQCgAQGqAQdnd3Mtd2l6&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwjjmsTg6dboAhURup4KHdvTB9kQ4dUDCAs
Price from two GM web sites. Average $140.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&ei=hbaMXqPEKJH0-gTbp5_IDQ&q=GM+#471009&oq=GM+#471009&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQDEoRCBcSDTctODJnODBnOTlnNjdKDQgYEgk3LTJnMWcyZzFQslZY8XJgg4QBaAFwAHgAgAGNAYgB7gOSAQM0LjKYAQCgAQGqAQdnd3Mtd2l6&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwjjmsTg6dboAhURup4KHdvTB9kQ4dUDCAs
Price from two GM web sites. Average $140.
Precision with the lock strip is what was used on my 74. Jack Morris auto glass. No time done.
Greetings and thanks for the reply, I sincerely do appreciate it. I have a new OEM GM windshield seal/gasket on order. Part Number 471009. Supposed to be about 7 to 10 days for delivery. I hope this works, if not, well, back to the drawing board. I will post my final answer. LOL!!!
rampage
3/4 ton status
Have you tried comparing the measurements of the window you’re trying to install vs. an OEM window? Maybe someone on here has one laying about and can tell you what size theirs is.
I just realized that you were working on a suburban. Somehow I missed that and thought you were working on a pickup. The part I posted was for a pickup. Sorry about that.
Good evening Blazer 74, Precision is the gasket that Safelite used, the upper right corner glass was NOT seated all the way in the rubber channel. I still have the Precision gasket they left behind, I ay play with it one day this week while I am waiting for my OEM GM gasket to arrive. THANKS a million!!!
Good idea rampage. But I looked at the pictures I have of the Suburban BEFORE I pulled the glass, it looked perfect. Still working on it.
Since you mentioned that you couldn't get the last corner in, I figured I would suggest something.
When installing these, I have always had to start at the bottom obviously. Then work up each side a couple of inches at at a time switching sides. Then go around the upper corners in 1/2" increments switching sides each time. Then run to the middle to finish.
When installing these, I have always had to start at the bottom obviously. Then work up each side a couple of inches at at a time switching sides. Then go around the upper corners in 1/2" increments switching sides each time. Then run to the middle to finish.
